The Initial Visit - What to Expect

            You may be interested in knowing what is involved in a typical visit to the acupuncturist.  During the initial visit, we sit down together and discuss the reasons that have brought you in to see me.  In addition, I ask you questions about your health history.  I also do what is referred to as tongue and pulse diagnosis.  This whole process gives me information about what is going on with you specifically.  This intake can range in length from just a few minutes to twenty or thirty minutes, depending on the situation.  For instance, if someone comes in because they sprained their back, it is not necessary to investigate their health history to the same extent as the person who has irritable bowel, allergies, asthma and migraines all at the same time.
            What happens next is that I leave the treatment room while the patient partially disrobes.  Gowns are provided for anyone who would like one, and if anyone is not comfortable disrobing, we work around the clothing.  I then have the patient lie on a massage table, either on their stomach or back.  At this time I usually do what is called a palpatory diagnosis.  What that means is that I palpate specific areas to see if they are sensitive to pressure.  Areas that I routinely palpate include the abdomen, neck, back, spine, and specific spots on the arms and legs.  This process can also yield some very specific information about areas or systems of the body that are out of balance.  I then insert some very thin fine needles into acupuncture points I have determined to be appropriate, make sure the person is comfortable, and then leave them with the needles in for 30 or 40 minutes.
            Patients are often quite apprehensive during this initial visit.  But once they get their first few needles and find out that it really is no big deal they start to relax.  In fact, the treatment itself is, for a lot of people, profoundly relaxing.  I would say that at least half of the people I treat go to sleep during their treatment.  And patients  often experience a feeling of euphoria or profound relaxation afterwards.
            The frequency and duration of treatment depend on the problem being treated and on how the individual responds to treatment.  I suggest that anyone with a chronic long-standing problem start out by coming twice a week for two weeks.  Then, depending on the response to treatment, a person would extend the time between visits.
            Not all problems need repeated treatment.  For instance, acute injuries such as sprains, strains, sore muscles, and a whole range of sports injuries often respond dramatically to just one or two treatments.  Generally, the sooner the injury is treated, the faster the response to treatment.  An injury left untreated often becomes a chronic nuisance that doesn’t heal properly, and as it gets aggravated over and over, becomes much more challenging to treat.
            All the needles I use come pre-sterilized and are disposed of after each use.  There are also very specific standards and procedures that are followed by all competent acupuncturists to ensure that the patient is safe and the environment is clean.  Patients should feel free to ask whoever they are seeing about the sterility of the needles and whatever other issues they are concerned about.